David headlines Canada soccer roster with Davies unavailable for Toronto friendlies

A spate of injuries to some of the country’s top men’s soccer players has Canada’s head coach rejigging his preparation for this summer’s World Cup.

Jesse Marsch expected to bring the core of the national team together for a pair of friendlies in Toronto this month. Then the ailments started piling up.

Star left back Alphonso Davies went down with a hamstring strain after returning from a torn knee ligament. 

Striker Promise David suffered a hip muscle injury that required surgery. A recovery deep-tissue massage gave midfielder Stephen Eustáquio a hematoma.

“The injuries and the recovery and return to play all kind of started to add up to mean that not that many guys were going to be available to train or to play. So we then transferred it more to a performance camp,” Marsch said.

“And now it’s an opportunity for some new faces and some new players to be in the camp and learn what we do and make a case for themselves. And then an obvious chance for everyone at the camp to make one last impression and to show how ready they are for what the summer will require.”

Canada unveiled the roster for the camp on Thursday. The same group will be used when the 29th-ranked Canadians host No. 74 Iceland on March 28 and No. 47 Tunisia on March 31 at Toronto’s BMO Field. 

The squad includes core attackers Jonathan David (Juventus FC), Cyle Larin (Southampton FC) and Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal CF), with Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City), Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami) and Owen Goodman (Barnsley FC) named as goalkeepers.

Among the defenders are Derek Cornelius (Rangers FC), Kamal Miller (Portland Timbers) and Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), while midfielders Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Ismaël Koné (U.S. Sassuolo Calcio) and Mathieu Choinière (LAFC) were also selected.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Marsch rattled off nearly a dozen players who are working their way back from injuries. The list includes Davies, who was hurt while playing with Bayern Munich earlier this month.

The Canadian captain wanted to join the team in Toronto, Marsch said, but the coach made the decision to leave him in Munich. 

“Right now the emphasis for all of our players that are either in injury situations or return to play situations is to nurse them and do whatever is necessary to get them back to 100 per cent fitness and form,” Marsch explained. 

“So with Alphonso, we decided to leave (him) there and for him to just continue all of what is necessary for him to get himself back to absolute 100 per cent.” 

A few recovering players will be in the mix in Toronto. 

Right back Alistair Johnston (Celtic FC), who’s recovering from hamstring surgery, and centre back Moïse Bombito (OGC Nice), who’s recovering from a fractured tibia, were named as training players only.

Defenders Derek Cornelius (Rangers FC) and Luc de Fougerolles (FCV Dender), who are both returning from ankle injuries, will be in camp and Marsch believes they should be able to play limited minutes. 

The coach added he’s been in “very close contact” with all of the injured players’ clubs and has shared ideas about how to “expedite recoveries” and “eliminate any setbacks.” 

The long list of absences hasn’t troubled the group, Marsch said. Instead, it’s providing some players a chance to take on new leadership roles. 

“It’s a strong group, man. Nothing’s really fazed this group,” Marsch said. “I think that that’s a really good sign.”

With so many players unavailable, this month’s camp will feature some unfamiliar faces, including defenders Ralph Priso (Vancouver Whitecaps) and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty (New York Red Bulls).

The March window marks one of the final chances for Canada to play on home soil before the tournament.

The country will also face No. 52 Uzbekistan in Edmonton on June 1 and No. 59 Ireland in Montreal on June 5, its final tune-ups before the World Cup begins June 11. 

Canada is co-hosting the tournament with the United States and Mexico.

The Canadians open June 12 in Toronto against the winner of a European playoff. Canada has also been drawn with No. 18 Switzerland and 56th-ranked Qatar in the group stage.

After the opener, Canada will face Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24 at B.C. Place in Vancouver.

The European playoff winner could be No. 13 Italy, which would add a major test to Canada’s group.

“The confidence I have in our team, and the belief I have in our team, gets me so excited for June 12,” Marsch said. “So I just want to make sure that this camp — (as) always — gives all these guys another great step toward the direction of us being truly great this summer.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2026.